Emirates sustaining success

The world’s fastest-growing airline reported a Dh1.7 billion net profit and carried 21.5 million passengers during the April to September period last year.

Emirates is aiming for 50 million passengers at the end of its 2014-15 fiscal year, an increase of over seven million compared to 2013-14. — Supplied photo

Dubai: Despite political instability in parts of the Middle East and the 80-day runway repair of Dubai International Airport in 2014, Emirates is profitable and its six- month results in terms of pasengers and earnings for the April-to-September 2014 period are expected to be better than last year, says a top official of the airline.

The world’s fastest-growing airline reported a Dh1.7 billion net profit and carried 21.5 million passengers during the April to September period last year.

“We are still better than last year despite what’s happening in the region [Middle East],” Emirates divisional senior vice-president for Commercial Operations Shaikh Majid Al Mualla told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of an event held to announce the airline’s partnership with Starwood Hotels in Dubai.

Emirates is expected to announce its six months results on November 12.

When asked if the airline’s first-half passenger numbers and profit are better than last year despite runway repair of Dubai International airport, he replied: “Yes, I guess both [are better].

Only one runway was in operation during the 80-day runway refurbishment this year that reduced the airport’s capacity by 26 per cent.

Shaikh Majid mentioned that the airline started the year with strong numbers.

“We have opened almost eight new destinations this year and we will continue our growth. We have 232 aircraft and now we are getting more aircraft with new technology.”

As one of the leading global airlines, Emirates is constantly adding new routes and new destinations, connecting more people with more places. To date, Emirates has 55 A380 in its fleet and is receiving an average of two of these supersized aircraft per month. Particularly, the US market has been a growing market for Emirates, adding Boston and Chicago as its latest US destination in August 2014 and upgrading its routes to Dallas/Fort Worth to an A380 with San Francisco and Houston to follow shortly.

In total, Emirates serves more than 140 destinations in more than 80 countries across six continents. With its hub in Dubai, it connects the West with the East — providing customers from the Americas, Europe and Africa service to destinations in the Far East and Australasia, West Asia, Indian Ocean and Middle East and vice-versa.

Responding a question about passenger number growth during this year, he said: “We are aiming for 50 million passengers at the end of our fiscal year 2014-15. So there will be an increase of almost seven million compared to 2013-14.”

Talking about the new partnership with Starwood Hotels, he said: “This is part of our business as we already a have some other partners. Both of us have a lot of opportunities to grab the business.”

Last month, Emirates announced that the carrier will continue with its growth trajectory, in spite of global challenges like regional political instability, pandemic health issues in Africa and softening economic demand from dropping oil prices.

abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com